Social Work Student Perceptions of Co-Response: Implications for Policy

This article describes a study of the factors impacting social work student knowledge of co-response teams designed to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal legal system and interest in participating in co-response teams, and provides policy and educational recommendations for social work’s interaction with these teams. The data in this study was collected using convenience sampling from MSW students who were enrolled in accredited universities in the United States and Canada via an online survey in 2022 and 2023. Of 145 MSW students surveyed, roughly 75% of students had heard of co-response, over 60% agreed that they strongly supported the practice and nearly 94% believed co-response aligned with social work values. The following positively impacted student desire to join co-response teams: positive perceptions of police, knowledge of co-response, and belief that co-response aligned with social work values. Race did not impact student desire to join a co-response team. These results show support of co-response is relatively high, important given that co-response awareness for social workers is important given the different ways social workers may interact with these teams. Policy recommendations for thoughtful operationalization of co-response are discussed as a result of this research.